Double seamer



P 1950v .w. E. ROONQEY 2,522,301

DOUBLE SEAMER Filed May 24, 19 47 s Sheets-Sheet 2 W/u me E Poo/vs) Sept. 12, 1950- w. E. ROONEY 2,522,301

DOUBLE SEAMER 3 Sheets-.Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1947 NUENTOB M41. TEE Pam/EV Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation and partial section of the seamer head mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a development of the ratchet wheelthat drives the eccentric whereby the seaming rolls are actuated into and from seaming positions.

Figs. '7, 8, 9 and 10 are plan views of the seamer roll mounting plate and rolls as actuated to different positions by the rotation of the eccentric through one seam forming cycle.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating movement of the first operation roll.

Fig. 12 is a similar view illustrating second operation roll movement.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present improvement has herein been illustrated in connection with a typical form of double seamer of semi-automatic type. The mechanism shown comprises a horizontal base member 13 adapted to be fixed to a foundation and on which base a post, or standard I l is rigidly fixed. Atits upper end, the standard or post mounts the seamer head mechanism which is designated in its entirety in Fig. l by the reference numeral 12. Mounted on the base H1, and suitably spaced from the standard, is the can supporting table or pad 53 on which the cans are placed, one at a time, then lifted andheld by the pad against the seamer head chuck for the seaming operation.

The can mounting pad l3, as seen in Fig. 3, is

rotatably supported by a vertical stem or spindle M that, is fixed concentrically thereto; the stem extending downwardly from the pad and being rotatably contained in a sleeve [5 which, in turn, is vertically slideable in a housing 16 that is fixed to the base ii). Normally the pad I3 is in a lowered position, but it may be manually lifted to bring the upper end of a can that may be placed thereon, into seaming position against the seamer head chuck and held there during the seaming operation, then lowered for removal of the seamed can. This movement of the pad is accomplished by actuation of a hand lever l1 that is fixed to one end ,of a horizontal shaft. l8 that extends rotatably through the base portion of the housing in and which shaft has a cam 20 fixed thereon within the housing in position to engage against a ball bearing 2| mounted in a block 22 that is slideably contained in the lower end of the sleeve 15. The block has a very limited movement relative to the sleeve by reason of a pin 23 extended therethrough and fixed at its ends in the sleeve; the block having a bore 22 of slightly larger diameter than, the pin, and through which the pin extends difference in diameter between pin and. bore determines the extent of relative movement.

The swinging of the lever H from the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to full line position rotates the cam 2 8 accordingly to actuate the sleeve to move the pad from lowered to raised position. Slight variation in the height of cans is allowed for through the compression of a coiled spring 24 that is located in the lower end portion of the sleeve between a shoulder 25 in the sleeve and the upper end of the block 22.

The seamer head [2 is supported from the upper end of the standard H by means of a horizontally extending cross beam 25 that is welded or otherwise fixed to the standard. At one end of this beam is a bearing in which a vertical shaft 3| is revolubly mounted. At its lower end, the shaft 3! has a seaming chuck 32 of typical design, fixed thereto; the shaft 33 and chuck 32 being axially aligned with the can supporting pad and its spindle M as seen in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the shaft 3!, a bevelled gear wheel 33 is fixed thereto in operative mesh with a similar gear wheel 34 that is fixed on one end of a horizontally extending drive shaft 35.

Shaft 35 is above and slightly forward of the cross beam 25 and parallel thereto.'- It is rotatably contained in bracket bearings 33 and 3? that are mounted on the top side of cross beam 25 at its ends. At the end opposite that which carries the gear wheel 34, the shaft 35 is equipped with a belt pulley wheel 38 over which belts, not shown, may operate to drive the shaft and incidentally revolve the chuck at proper speed for the seam forming operation. It is the usual practise, that shaft 35 be continuously driven.

It is the usual procedure in double seaming operations of the present kind, where the. can is revolved and the head remains stationary, that the cans with covers applied thereto be placed one at a time upon the rotatably mounted pad, then the pad is manually lifted to cause the can end or cover as applied to the upper end of the can, to be engaged against the rotatably driven seamer head chuck and to be revolved thereby. The seamer rolls are then so actuated as to be successively engaged with the flange of the cover to form the seam.

The important features of this invention, reside in the manner of mounting the double seamer rolls and the means for and manner of actuating them to accomplish their operations. This will be best understood by referring to Figs. '7 to 10 of the drawings.

The two seam forming rolls, designated by numerals 40 and 41, respectively, are located and this substantially at the level of the chuck as is the usual practise and both rolls are rotatably mounted on the underside and at one end of a horizontal supporting plate 42 which, is supported in such manner that it may be moved endwise toward and from the chuck and also to allow that end which carries the rolls and which is nearest the chuck, to move laterally in opposite directions to a limited extent. To provide for such endwise and lateral movements, the plate is formed in that end portion opposite that which mounts the seaming rolls, with a longitudinal slot 45 in which a block 45 is slideably contained, and a pivot bolt 4'! is extended upwardly through the block into a horizontal supporting plate '33. The bolt 31 mounts the block thereon between a collar 49 and a washer 513 that are applied about the bolt.

The seaming rolls, 4G and 4 l, havetheir mounting spindles, 40a and 4| a, revolubly contained in bearings 5| and 52 at the laterally swinging end portion of the plate 42. Each bearing is diametrically divided in the plane of the two spindles and a bearing cap 53 which retains the spindles, is held in place by bolts 54 maintained under tension of springs 55, allowing for slight yielding of the second operation roll in its passing over the side seam of the body.

When the two seaming rolls are in their retracted, or neutral position, they bear the rela: tionship to the chuck and can end flange as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. There is then sufiicient space between the chuck and the seamer rolls for the reception of the cam cover flange which is of substantially greater diameter than the chuck. Also, in this position of the plate 4% the rolls are equally spaced. at opposite sides'off 8111116. drawn between-the center of the chuck and: the center about which. the plate 4?; pivots. While. the plate is in. this; neutral posi tion, a. can. with. its cover applied thereto, is placed. on: the; table; I31 and lifted: thereon. against the clinch, to seat the" lower peripheral flange of th chuck in the countersink; of the cover: Then-- the plate. 42. is. actuated in. such a manner asto: bring the. seaming roll-s. successively into. contact the cover flange to perform their. respective seam forming functions. Finally the plate 42 is returned toits neutral position; and

remains there until again manually setv inmotion. The: table i3. is lowered, the can removed and. this. completes one cycle of operations.

To: give a better understanding of the. movement. oi the plate 42 and the seaming rolls mounted thereon, I have indicated in Fig.5 '2 by the dotted circles: at 6d and iii, the paths of travel. of. the axial centers of the rolls 4t andrespectively, during one cycle of operation.

The. movements of the plate #2 andthe seaming. rolls 40,- and. 4|. are brought. about by an op erating or driving connection. between: it. and the driven shaft 35 The connection comprises avertically extending shattliii, rotatably mounted in a bearing 63- formed integrally with a plate 64 that is adjustably fixed, asseenin Fig. l, to the trontside wall of. the cross beam 26 bymeansof bolts 55-65 that are passed through horizon tal slots 66- on the plate. 5.4. and threaded into the cross beam. Fixedeccentrically to the lower endof the-vertical shaft 62 is a circular cam wheel .68 that is rotatably fittedin a bearing 70 formed on the plate. 42 in its longitudinal center line and betweenits ends as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The eccentricity of the cam wheel kit on shaft.

62. effects.- the movements of plate 4?; that causes the seaming rolls to contact the can cover flange andperform their respective seaming operations ...The plate 48, previously mentioned, from which the plate 42 is supported by bolt H, is welded or: otherwise. rigidly attached to the bottom edge of. the. plate 64 and therefore will be. moved there- .The parts Ml and 64 together constitute a bracket for the support of the seaming mechas nismsand the manner of mounting this bracket permits it to be adjusted bodily to shift the seaming rolls. toward and from the shaft 3!, as required to properly position the rolls for the double seaming of. cans of different diameters.

At its upper end, the shaft 82 has a ratchet wheel 15 fixed thereto and this wheel is. adapted .to'bc rotatably advanced by the reciprocal action of a pawl T6 that has one end pivoted, as at H' in Fig. 5, on the lower end of an oscillating lever arm 18. It is shown also in Fig. 5, that the lever arm'la has a pin and slot connection 19 at its upper end for up and down movement, 60

with a supporting bracket 89 that is rigidly fixed to and extends upwardly from the plate 54. Be-

tween its ends, the lever arm T8 is mounted on 'a sleeve 8! that is eccentrically applied to and rotates with the drive shaft 35. Thus, with each rotation of shaft 35 and the eccentric sleeve, the lever arm 78 will be oscillated and thus cause the pawl it to be moved reciprocally and with successive reciprocal movements, the pawl will engage successive teeth of the ratchet wheel 15 thus to rotatably advance it and incidentally r tatably advance the cam shaft 62 accordingly. This rotatable advancement of the ratchet wheel, when once started, continues through the seaming cycle and then, at the end ofthe cycle, is automatically stopped by reason of the provision 6 of a shortblanls space in the wheel, as at $5 in Fig. 5, in which the pawl 15 may'reciprocate freely without contacting any tooth of the wheel. It is while the seaming rolls are thus rendered inactive, that the seamed can is removed from the machine and a new can is placed in seaming position.

To start the seaming cycle, after a can has been placed in seaming position, I provide a hand lever 90 which, as shown in Fig. 4, is mounted on the bracket 80 by a pivot pin 9| passed through its lower end, and to this lever a pawl 92 of hook like form is pivoted. The hook end of the pawl rests upon the ratchet wheel in such manner that the'wheel may advance freely thereunder. However, by manually swinging the lever 93 from the lull line position of Fig. 4 to the dotted line Desition, the hook and of the pawl will engage. with a tooth of the ratchet wheel and advance the wheel sufficiently that pawl It. in its next reciprocal movement will take efieot on the ratchet wheel to advance it so that by the following reciprocal movements of the pawl 16 the shaft will be rotated to shift the plate M as required for the seam forming cycle.

It is well known in the art that the seam forming operation of the first operation roll can be carried on quite rapidly, but the operation of flattening the seam, as performed by the second roll, has to be somewhat retarded. .Therefore, as a feature of the ratchet wheel desi I have providcd for the automatic'accomplishment of this variation in'speed of seaming operations by varying the spacing of the ratchet teeth along certain. parts of the wheel as has been shown in the development of the ratchet wheel in Fig. 6.

Referring. to Fig. 6, and beginning with the blank space B5,'in which the pawl 16 may reciprocate freely, it is noted that the teeth are spaced evenly but relatively far apart for a'certain distance after which the spacing of a succession of teeth is substantially reduced, and then the original spacing is resumed to the starting point.

i The teeth of the wheel that, in Fig. 6, are embraced by bracket a are those engaged for that rotation of the cam wheel 68 through that part of the cycle that shifts the plate 42 to move the first operation from neutral or starting position and through 'itsseam forming operation anddisengages it from the seam andbrings the second operation roll'up to the beginning of its opera tion on the seam. The teeth embraced within the bracket b are those engaged by the pawl to rotate the shait'through that part of its cycle that shifts the plate 42' to advance the second operation roll through its functional operation on the seam. The teeth embraced by bracket 0 are those that are engaged by the pawl 16 to rotate the shaft to shift the plate 42 to return the two rolls back to the starting or neutral position, after the second roll operation has been completed.

Referring again to Fig. 6, it may be explained "further that the teeth spanned by the bracket m are those being acted on while the first operational roll 40 is moving against the seam. The teeth spanned by bracket y are those acted on by the pawl to shift the second operation roll into contact with the seam after the first roll has completed its operation. The eleven teeth spanned by the bracket b extend along an are equal to that covered by seven of the teeth of greater spacing.

It is anticipated that slight adjustment in set ting of the'se'aming rolls t0 and 4| may be required or desired to obtain best seam forming results. Therefore, the mounting spindles of the seaming rolls are here shown as contained eccentrically in bushings 40b and Mb that are rotatably adjustable in the bearings and 52 and adapted to be fixed at any set positionafter adjustment has been made.

Assuming the seamer to be so constructed, the mode of operation through one seaming cycle would be as follows: With the shaft being driven at the proper speed, a can is centered upon the table It with cover applied, and lifted, by actuation of lever H, to seat the upper end or cover of the can tightly against the seamer head chuck to cause the can to be revolved therewith. The starting lever 9D is then moved from the full line position of Fig. 4, to the dotted line position, to advance the ratchet wheel 15 that necessary interval that will cause the reciprocating pawl 16 to take effect upon the wheel to effect the rotatable advancement of the shaft 62. As this shaft is thus rotatably advanced, the eccentrically mounted cam 68 at its lower end turns accordingly and causes the plate 42 to be advanced toward the chuck and the first operation roll to be brought into engagement with the can cover flange. The direction of travel of the center of the first operation seaming roll in this first operation movement of the plate is inwardly toward the line between centers of the chuck and pivot center of the plate and also toward the chuck center, along the line of arrow 60a in Fig. 7a. The actual contacting of the roll 40 with the cover flange usually takes place with the second or third reciprocal action of the pawl 16, and the roll leaves or moves away from the seam when the roll reaches the position shown in dotted lines at Ma: in Fig. 11. In this first operation, the di ameter of the cover, designated at c is reduced to the extent of the difference in its diameters as indicated in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 11, and this reduction of diameter is followed up by the second operation roll as its center moves along the line of the arrow tla in Fig. 11. To carry through the first operation of the seam, the cam 68 rotates through an arc of about 160 degrees from the starting point, in which it is shown in Fig. 7.

It will be understood, by reference particularly to Fig. 11, that as the first operation roll 40 is being moved inwardly against the seam to complete its particular'function, the second operation roll M is being moved toward the seam, closely following up the reduction in diameter of the can cover under the seam forming operation, but not contacting the seam. This travel of the roll 4| is indicated in Fig. 11 by the dotted line position of the roll 4 l. r

As the first operation roll moves away from the seam, as in passing from the dotted line position ills: in Fig. 11 to the full line position of the roll in Fig. 12, the second operation roll is brought into contact with the seam. This takes place while the pawl '16 is acting on the ratchet teeth within the bracket 11 in Fig. 6. At the timethe second operation roll contacts the seam,'the cam wheel 68 has advanced from starting position about 200 degrees. It will be understood that the movement of the roll 4| toward the seam is quite fast due to the particular position of the cam at that time relative to the line between centers of the chuck and bolt 41. Thus the second operation starts almost immediately after the completion of the first operation.

The inward travel of roll for ironing down the seam, is slowed down as previously explained by retarding the rate of turning of the cam 68.

It starts with the roll in the dotted line posi-'- tion of Fig. 12 and continues to the full line position. The actual reduction in diameter of the can end by this roll is very little as compared with the reduction effected by the first roll. With the turning of the cam 68 through the last interval of about 120 degrees, the parts are returned to starting position.

To change the setting of plate 42 to adapt the machine to the seaming of cans of different diameters, the chuck 32 is replaced by one of proper size, then the bolts 65 are loosened, and the plate 64 is shifted inwardly or outwardly as may be required. It is not ordinarily required that any re-setting of the rolls 40 and 4| relative to each other be made after their proper relationship has once been established. It is advantageous, for quick setting of the plate 64 for cans of different diameters, to provide a plurality of small holes, as at 96, in beam 25 with which a hole in the plate 64 may be registered to receive a look ing dowel as at B8 in Fig. 4.

Machines of this kind so equipped with these seaming roll mechanisms are comparatively simple to operate and adjust. There are few working parts and these are not apt to get out of order or adjustment. If adjustments are required, they may be easily and readily made by the ordinary workman.

It is to be understood that in the use of the roll mounting and actuating means, as has been shown rather diagrammatically in Figs. 7 to 12, I do not wish to be restricted in any way by reason of having stated the extent of turning of cam 58 for any of the various operations, for in fact, the extent of angular movement of the cam 68 for the bringing of the rolls into or from contact with the can seam, and for completing their respective operations, is dependent upon various factors, for example, upon the size of cans, the diameter of the rolls, their spacing relative to each, the spacing of centers of parts 3|, 62 and 41 and upon other details of construction. What I consider to be the gist of the invention is the mounting of the seaming rolls on the same supporting plate and the actuation of this plate by rotation of a single cam to cause the plate to bring the rollsinto contact with the can seam in proper sequence to form the seam. Other features are the provision for easy and quick adjustment to adapt the machine to scaming of cans of different size, the variation in speed of action of first and second operation rolls; the automatic stopping upon completion of a cycle of operations and the simplification of mechanism and reduction in number of parts without loss of effectiveness.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a double seamer, a frame structure, a drive shaft, a seamer shaft driven by the said drive shaft and. mounted in the frame structure, a chuck fixed on the seamer shaft, against which a can may be seated for seaming an end thereto, a pivot member fixed in the frame at a distance laterally spaced from the chuck, a plate having pivotal and sliding connection at its outer end with said pivot member and extended toward and terminating at its inner end near the adjacent side of the chuck, first operation and second operation seaming rolls mounted on the inner end portion of said plate in fixed spacing relative to each other and normally spaced from the chuck at opposite sides of a line through the pivot member and chuck axis, a cam shaft revolubly supported by the frame parallel with the seamer shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed on the cam shaft, a pawl mounted to coact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel for its advancement, means operable by the drive shaft to cause continuous reciprocation of the pawl in accordance with the rotation of the shaft and to cause the pawl to rotatably advance the ratchet wheel an interval of one tooth with each reciprocal movement there- A of, a cam fixed eccentrically on the said cam shaft and revolubly fitted in said plate to effect movement thereof relative to the pivot member whereby, with each rotation of the cam, the said seaming rolls are caused to successively coact with the chuck to perform their respective seaming operations and are then returned to normal position. I

2. A combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the series of teeth of the ratchet Wheel that are successively engaged by the reciprocating pawl to actuate the plate to move the first operation seaming roll through its seaming operationand bring the second operation roll into contact with the seam are spaced relatively far apart, and those teeth that are engaged by the pawl for actuating the plate to move the second operation roll through its seam closing operation are spaced relatively close together. 1

3. A double seamer as recited in claim 1 wherein the series of teeth of said ratchet wheel that are successively engaged by the reciprocating pawl to actuate the plate to move the first operation seaming roll through its seaming 1 opera tion and to bring the second operation roll into contact with the seam are spaced relatively far apart, and that series of teeth that are successively engaged by the reciprocating pawl for actu "10 a chuck fixed on the seamer shaft, a bracket mounted on the frame structure, a pivot member fixed in the bracket at a distance laterally spaced ating the plate to move the second operation roll through its seam closing operation are relatively close together, and wherein a blank space, that is drive shaft and mounted in the frame structure,

from the chuck, a plate having pivotal and sliding connection at its outer end with said pivot member and extended toward and terminating at its inner end near the adjacent side of the chuck, first operation and second operation seaming rolls mounted on the inner end portion of said plate in fixed spacing relative to each other and normally spaced from the chuck, a cam shaft revolubly mounted in the bracket parallel with the seamer shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed on the cam shaft, an elongated cam applied to the drive shaft, a lever arm having a pin and slot connection at one end with the said bracket and operatively engaged with the said elongated cam for oscillation thereby in accordance with rotation of the drive shaft, a pawl pivotally connected to the said arm for reciprocation thereby and operatively engaged with the ratchet wheel to effect its rotatable advancement with the rotation of the drive shaft; a cam on the cam shaft revolubly fitted in said plate to effect movement thereof relative to the pivot member whereby, with each rotation of the cam shaft the said seaming rolls are caused to successively coact with the chuck to perform their respective seaming operations; said bracket being adjustable on the frame from and toward the seamer chuck to accommodatethe seamer rolls to cans of different diameter and said lever arm being movable along the said elongated cam and maintaining operative relationship therewith for all positions of adjustment of the bracket.

WALTER E. RODNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,167,348 Brenzinger Jan. 4, 1916 2,020,472 Leuthesser Nov; 12, 1935 2,170,055 Johnson Aug. 22, 1939 2,177,382 Brenzinger Oct. 24, 1939 2,181,237 Ives NOV. 28, 1939 2,306,375 Bach Dec. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 432,846 Germany Aug. 16, 1926 

